Caleb e



(No Model.)

0. E. BROWN.

SHOE.

No. 801,333. Patented July 1, 1884.

WITNESSESi myswfoh:

BY l3 .dWW

Attorney.

N. PETERS Plmoiiihugnphar. Washington. or.

usual fastenings-such as laces,

CALEB E. BROWN, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN.

SHOE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 301,333, dated July 1, 1884. Application filed May 2, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CALEB E. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jackson, in the county of Jackson and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful means of fastening shoes to feet, whereby the straps and buckles, buttons, and similar devicesare dispensed with, and whereby the shoe is fastened to the foot simply by the operation of putting it on. l

The construction of the improved shoe whereby the desired result is accomplished will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate what is deemed the best means of embodying the invention.

Figure 1 is aside view of a shoe having my improvement, showing the same as it appears ready to be put 011 the foot. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section as it appears when 011 the foot. Fig. 3 is a view of the heelpiece. Fig. 4 is a'view of the front instep-flap.

In the present instance the shoe shown is of that style which has a front center opening and afront instep-flap to cover said opening. It will be obvious, however, that the improvement is applicable to other styles of shoessuch, for instance, as the side-button shoes, where the flap itself attached at one sidecovers an opening on the other side. No special flap is necessary. I wouldhave it understood, therefore, that my invention may be applied to various styles of shoes suited heel-piece with the instep-flap.

for the wear of men, women, and children. The shoe has an opening in the present instance at the front, and an instep-flap, A, covers this opening. The flap is attached to the shoe at b. A- movable internal heel-piece, O, of leather or woven material, is designed for the heel of the wearer to set upon. Bands or straps d of any kind connect each side of the If no flap be used, then the bands will connect with the edges of the shoe-front along the openingthat is, the bands on one side of the foot will connect with the edge of the opening which is on the opposite side. The opening referred to is that slit which commences at the top edge of the shoe that in a high-cut shoe vfits about the ankle and extends down either the front or side, and, as intimated, this open ing may or may not have a flap to cover it. The heel-piece and bands may be integral that is, cut from one piece of material, as,

one of these slits one of the bands (3 passes, and

said bands thence extend between the lining F and outer covering, H, and emerge through slits i, made in the outer covering near the shoe-opening. In the case of a shoe having no lining the bands (I may simply emerge from slits or other outlets near the opening.

It will be seen that when the instep-flap is raised or lifted from the usual opening the bands (Z are drawn through the slits in the lining and outer covering, and the heel-piece G is elevated, as indicated by broken lines in Fig. 1. In this position of the heel-piece the shoe is ready to be put on the foot. the foot is slipped into the shoe, the heel of the foot sets 011 the heel-piece O, and then when the heel of the foot is forced down to the sole the heel-piece, through the medium of the connectingbands, draws the flap tight over the front opening, and thereby secures the shoe to the foot. It is therefore a selfihstening devlce.

Having described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. A shoe having a self-fastening device by which it may be secured to the foot, consisting of a movable internal heel-piece directly con nected, substantially as described, with the flap J at the shoe-opening, whereby when the foot forces the heel-piece down the shoe-opening will be closed, as set forth.

2. In combination with a shoe, a fastening hen IOO

whereby the shoe is secured to the foot, consistthrough said slits and connected with the shoe- 1o ing of a movable internal heel-piece,where0n front, as and for the purpose set forth.

the heel of the wearer is designed to set, and In testimony whereof I affix my signature in means, substantially as described, to connect presence of two witnesses. 1

the said heel-piece with the opening flap, as

set fo th CALEB E. BROWN.

3. A shoe having slits in the outer covering, Witnesses:

I and a movable internal heel-piece having at- ELI A. CLEMENT,

tached thereto bands which are passed loosely CHAS. E. SNOW. 

